Lunar Transportation System

1
Propulsion
Structure
Lunar Transportation System
GISS Apprentices Design
As the chart illustrates, the chosen propulsion
systems for our transport vehicles are
chemically-powered rockets and Ion Drive
propulsion.
Ion Drive Propulsion
Chemical Rockets
Background The Apollo program sent 12 Americans
to the lunar surface between 1969 and 1972, but
humans have not set foot on the moon since then.
In January 2004, President Bush announced a new
focus for US space policy. The goal is to return
humans to the moon by 2020, and eventually create
a permanent base to use as a jumping-point for
further exploration of the solar system.
Structure of the system depends on the mission,
which in turn is dependent on the policy
governing NASA. NASAs goal is to create a
cost-efficient lunar transport system which will
sustain operations for long periods of time, as
well as have the ability to be adapted to future
Mars missions. The system must also be
implemented fairly quickly, with a reasonable
amount of effort spent on development. The
transport system would ideally consist of two
reusable vehicles, since this arrangement would
be the most practical and cost-efficient to
operate. However, when research and development
(R D) costs are taken into consideration, a
system combining an expendable Cargo Launch
Vehicle (CaLV) with a reusable Lunar Cargo
Transport Vehicle (LCTV) provides a compromise
between overall cost-efficiency and practicality.

• Earth to LEO Ares V chemical rockets
• LEO to space Hydrogen booster
• In-space Ion Drive argon-powered SEP
• Lunar Landing/takeoff Hydrogen booster

Main Objectives Using current and emerging
technological developments, design a system
capable of transporting materials needed for a
lunar colony from the earth to the moon.

• Ion drive propulsion works by pushing heated,
  charged particles out of the engine at very high
  speeds. Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma
  Rockets (VASIMR) systems have the ability to
  switch between a low thrust, high fuel efficiency
  mode, and a high thrust, lower fuel efficiency
  mode. They are good for in-space cargo missions.

• Chemical rockets are the only propulsion system
  currently available to produce enough thrust to
  leave earths atmosphere. While they can reach
  very high velocities, they are heavy and
  inefficient with fuel, so theyre not a good
  choice for in-space propulsion.

Power Supply
LCTV
Without cargo, arms deployed
Cargo loaded, solar panels deployed
Materials

• Fission splits atoms to generate power
• Fusion fuses atoms together to produce energy
  system based on Colliding Beam Fusion model that
  uses Protium (1H) and Boron (11B) still in
  research stages
• Solar uses photovoltaic effect to convert solar
  energy to electricity requires large arrays for
  a lot of power (solution would have to include
  battery backup system)
• Battery common power system for small scale use
  can be used as backup for other power systems
• Fuel Cell similar to battery, except uses
  hydrogen and oxygen, currently being
  researched/developed

The initial launch will consist of two Ares V
rockets, one carrying cargo and the other
carrying the Lunar Cargo Transport Vehicle
(LCTV). In LEO, the cargo will be autonomously
loaded onto the LCTV. Then, the LCTV will propel
the cargo to the moon, where the craft lands and
the cargo will be unloaded. The LCTV will then
take off from the lunar surface and return to
LEO, where it will be able to receive new
moon-bound cargo.

• High temperature Reusable Surface Insulation
  (HRSI)
• 9 lbs per cubic foot
• Surface heat dissipates quickly
• Temperature range up to 2400F

• Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC)
• Graphite reinforced CC matrix
• Strength (up to 700 MPa)
• Temperature range up to 3600F

•  Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation
  (AFRSI)
• 8-9 lbs per cubic foot and varies in thickness
  from 0.45-0.95 inches
• more durable, less fabrication, less installation
  time and costs, and a weight reduction.

• Initial cargo
• Equipment to prepare lunar surface (backhoe-type
  rover)
• Temporary lunar outpost
• Fuel for LCTV

• Subsequent Cargo
• Cylindrical lunar base modules
• Circular lunar base units
• Solar power-processing station
• Fuel for LCTV
• Energy-storage cells
• Transportation/construction equipment

CONCLUSION Our lunar cargo transportation system
consists of a partially expendable Cargo Launch
Vehicle and a reusable Lunar Cargo Transport
Vehicle. The vehicle construction will use RCC,
HRSI, and AFRSI, within existing vehicle
framework. The automated LCTV will be
solar-powered with battery backup, and will use
fly-by-optics for flight control. In space, the
vehicle will be propelled with argon-powered
solar electric propulsion. Our system will be for
unmanned cargo-only missions from the earth to
the moon.
Composites are engineered materials made of 2 or
more materials with different properties combined
with a resin (glue).
Sponsors National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) NASA Goddard Space Flight
Center (GSFC) NASA Goddard Institute for Space
Studies (GISS) NASA New York City Research
Initiative (NYCRI) Stevens Institute of
Technology (SIT) Contributors Dr. Siva Thangam,
PI Prof. Joseph Miles, PI William Carroll,
HST Alyssa Barlis, HSS Michael Creech, HSS Marina
Dawoud, HSS
Works Cited NASAs Exploration Systems
Architecture Study Final Report completed
November 2005. ltwww.nasa.gov/mission_pages/explora
tion/news/ESAS_report.htmlgt Colliding Beam Fusion
Reactor Space Propulsion System. A. Cheung, M.
Binderbauer, F. Liu, A. Qerushi, N. Rostoker, and
F. J. Wessel.